Barry Lewis: Neighbor's project is no flight of fancy

Trying to maneuver my way out, I managed to sink deeper, spinning the wheels with just enough force to give myself an instant mud bath.

My neighbor, a nice, quiet guy in his early 70s who tinkers with antique tractors, walked over with a 2x4, shoved it under the mower wheel and, like some action hero, slowly pushed me out of the mud and onto dry grass without the slightest grunt or smirk.

I sheepishly said thanks as I handed him back the 2x4 and wiped the mud out of my eyes.

He's like my father-in-law. And my colleague Mike. One of those guys who can never sit still. Always building. Repairing. Remodeling. Almost makes me feel guilty when I just want to relax and watch football. Almost.

I noticed a shed he's building. Thing has three windows. Fancy trim. It's bigger than some Manhattan apartments. He said it was to protect his pump and store some stuff. Then he asked if I wanted to see the airplane he was building. I told him I love models.

This time he smirked.

Sure enough, in his garage was a small two-seater that he was putting together from a kit that he ordered. It was still without the full tail, wings and motor, but the frame was about done. It was an airplane.

"Bet that took a lot of glue."

He said he started it last year, expects to finish next year. Didn't get to do much work on it over the summer.

"Too hot and I didn't have much time what with fishing."

But build a airplane?

"I don't go to Florida in the winter. This will keep me busy."

And I consider organizing my underwear drawer a time-consuming endeavor.

I know what it's like to have one of those "busy" projects.

I said that last spring I built a storage shed that we got at Home Depot. By myself. It really was more like an enclosed shelf than a shed. But this thing was big. Three tiers. Lotta instructions. In three languages. With doors. Thing is so complex that you really can't even tell where I messed up. I thought the door handles were supposed to be higher. It happens, right?

I explained to my neighbor that I wound up with about half-a-dozen extra pieces. I assume that's normal. Although I wish they would tell you just how many extra pieces you're supposed to have. So you know if you've made any mistakes.

I looked back at the plane.

"Boy, you sure had to put in a lot of rivets to hold it together. How many extra parts do you think you'll end up with? Do you need help with instructions?"

My neighbor said it really was a one-man project. I understood.

Hope he does a better job putting on the wings than I did with the handles on my shed.